12 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN. in abundance, castin unto the offeringsof God ; but she of her penury hath castin allthe livingthatshehad."1 Greatly- blessedand glorious-woman, who even before the day of judgment hast merited to be praisedby the voice of the Judge ! Let the rich be ashamed of theirbarrennessand unbelief. The widow, the widow needy in means,1 is found rich in works. And although everythingthat is given is conferredupon widows and orphans,she gives,whom itbe hoved to receive,thatwe may know thence what punishment awaitsthe barrenrichman, when by thisvery instanceeven the poor ought to labourin good works. And in orderthat we may understand that their laboursare given to God, and thatwhoever performsthem deserveswell of the Lord, Christ callsthis" the offeringsof God" and intimatesthat the widow has castin two farthingsintotheofferingsof God, that it may be more abundantly evidentthat he who hath pityon the poor lendethto God. 16. But neitherlet the consideration,dearestbrethren, restrainand recallthe Christianfrom good and righteous works,thatany one should fancy that he could be excused forthe benefitof hischildren; sincein spiritualexpenditure we ought to think of Christ,who has declaredthatHe re ceivesthem ; and not preferour fellow-servants,but theLord, to our children,sinceHe Himself instructsand warns us, saying," He thatloveth fatheror mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he thatlovethson or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." 3 Also in Deuteronomy, for the strengtheningof faithand the loveof God, similarthings are written: " Who say,"he saith," unto theirfatheror mother, I have not known thee; neitherdid they acknow ledge theirchildren,these have observed Thy words, and kept Thy covenant."4 For if we love God with our whole heart,we ought not to prefereitherour parentsor children to God. And thisalsoJohn laysdown in his epistle,that 1Luke xxi.3,4. 2Thisisdifferentlyread" a widow,-a poorwidow isfound,"etc.; or," a woman widowedandpoor." 3Matt.x.37. *Deut.xxxiii.9.